Firsts

I can't believe I survived my first night shift at CHLA. I had no idea what to expect going in, but it wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. I had no problem staying up with only one cup of coffee. I got home around 5:30 am and slept in until 2pm. It felt so good to sleep. I actually think I prefer the night shift over the day shift. Waking up at 5 am to go to work does not sit right with me. But I absolutely loved the hospital and it gave me motivation to keep working toward my goal of being a peds nurse.

I also had my first rotation of labor and delivery...and boy is labor disgusting! I should have known what I was getting myself into, but I wasn't expecting so much blood. Watching a vaginal birth really set me back a few years of having my own kids. I was even debating with myself if it was even worth it, ha! But I really loved working with the moms and babies.

Kim, Me, Shaylin and Krista
during our Labor and Delivery rotation

Even though I love this rotation and have been looking forward to it for the past year, I am just so ready to be done with school. I'm ready to have a normal life again and not be so consumed in school. I get so anxious to plan my future, but I need to take one thing at a time. School has been the main priority in my life and will be that way until I graduate. I will start to look for jobs in Los Angeles when I am done with school so I can be close to Jeff. He accepted his offered to attended the Pharmacy program at the  University of Southern California! I am so excited for him and to watch him succeed in such a difficult program. Over the past couple years I have seen him grow in so many ways and accomplish the goals he sets his mind to. Soon it will be my turn to be his support during school.

The Hard Part is Over

Time is flying by with only a semester and a half left of the program. So many emotions arise when I think about graduation, taking the NCLEX, finding a job and planning my future. I just don't know how prepared I am for the real world. Graduation date is officially August 10th, 2013!

I just finished my mental health and advanced med/surg rotation, which was brutal. It was definitely the hardest part of the program, but now it's all down hill from here!!! The one thing I gained from mental health is how to approach a person with psychiatric problems. My patient's shared their life stories about addiction, abuse and depression that really made me see them as a whole person with normal struggles and fears. Advanced med/surg was difficult for me and  I didn't enjoy working in the ICU. I felt very overwhelmed working with unconscious patient's with tubes coming out of every which way. It was mostly from being unfamiliar with the floor, but that just means I have room to grow. 

Despite having the hardest semester of my life I did get to enjoy some fun activities and make some great memories. I got to spend my 24th birthday with my wonderful nursing friends. They got me a gift certificate for a pedicure, so that was my big event. But I ended the night with dinner and watching Grey's Anatomy.

Also, Jeffrey and I celebrated our 4  year anniversary and I honestly can't remember what we did. I think he came over to help me study. He's pretty amazing like that.

Now, I am starting pediatrics and mother-baby! SO EXCITED! This week we had our skills lab day where we learned how to do assessments on pregnant women, postpartum women and neonatal babies. So next week will be my first day on the floor. I have a night shift at Children's hospital of Los Angeles in the PICU, NICU and med/surg and a day shift at Mission hospital in the labor and delivery. I'm ready to see some babies!!!